Leafy Garden Border Card - The Not-So-Easy Version!
by Sphoorti
Hello there, Poppy Peeps!
Hope your Saturday's going great! I made two cards a few weeks ago. My original idea was inspired by one of Jennifer McGuire's cards and that's the one you see here. I came up with another idea in the process and made a second card which was a simpler and quicker version than this one.
I thought we'd start in that order. I'll be back on Monday, July 25th, 2022 with the easier version of this card. So stay tuned!
So, when the card is folded or placed in its envelope, this is how it looks. (Special shout-out to my cousin/sister-in-law who had to be my hand-model to hold the card down because otherwise, it opens up like a flower). It flattens completely when you place it in an envelope, so no need to worry about extra bulk or anything. It's just hard to photograph!
When you release it, it opens up like this:
You can write your message in that open area, or, you can decorate the inside, and write your note on the back. Whatever you prefer!
So getting back to how to make this card, I started with two standard A2 sized card bases, i.e. the ones that measure 4.25" x 5.5". Then I scored the card bases at 3.25" on one side. At that line, I folded it outwards, which resulted in a Z shaped card with a long end and a short end.
I took the Leafy Garden Border craft die and partially die cut the short end so that the bottom portion of the die doesn't cut through or get separated from the card base. Here's a closeup of what it looks like when you do partial die cutting. See how the bottom part of the Leafy Garden Border is still continuous or attached to the card base? It's seamlessly connected to the card base.
Alternatively, if you want to skip the patience-testing partial die cutting business, you can just cut out the Leafy Garden Border and just stick it to the short end of the card base. (SO much easier, quicker, and less stressful).
I repeated the same step on the other card base and then glued the card bases together.
I wanted to scatter some colored leaves, and I had a few scraps of alcohol ink backgrounds I created the last time I had those supplies out (which was more than 2 years ago) and I found these green ones that I thought would go perfectly with the idea I had in mind. So, I cut up multiple leaves with these using the Leafy Garden Border craft die, the Maple Symphony craft die), and a bunch from the Floral Cake Pop Up Easel craft die which has a plethora of floral and leafy dies. I cut up leaves and sprigs from the Leafy Garden Border die (because the die results in a single die cut with all the leaves attached). Then, I arranged the leaves and sprigs in front of and behind the leafy border that was attached to the card base.
There was a big space between the score line and the bottom of the leafy border, so I decided to use some washi tape with a copper-mirror look to it and placed it as a border to fill out some of that space. Then, I took a leftover I had from the last time I had my foil machine out and found a matching sentiment (the Happy Birthday one from the Birthday Wishes Poe Script Hot Foil Plate and Dies that I made with some copper colored foil). I attached it just to the bottom side of the card (so that the card doesn't get sealed shut).
I took an assortment of jewels and scattered them on the card base behind the floating leafy border and called it done!
I'm not going to lie, this was kinda hard to make because the leafy border is very delicate. Next time I try to make a card like this, I'm going to layer a few die cuts to form a chipboard style die cut so that it's sturdier and easier to work with. I think the effort and the pain was worth it, though! Those leaves are so gorgeous! And the card isn't too shabby, is it?
Thoughts? Questions? Epiphanies? Please do let us know! We love to hear from you! Thank you for sticking with me through the end of this hard card! Stay tuned for the easier version coming up in a few days! Have a great weekend, everyone!
Love,
Sphoorti
Supplies
Comments
Hi Sphoorti, I love this !! it may have been hard for you, but the finished card was well worth all the effort.
Lots of love from Patricia xx